Adjustable headpiece



Oct. 21, 1958 G. B. WAGENFELD 2,856,608

` ADJUSTABLE HEADPIECE Filed June 11, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 21, 1958 G. B. WAGENFELD yADJUSTABLE HEADPIECE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June l1, 1956 auf m` R. o n T N Nh R ww. m me M T/ United SttCS 'Patent AnJUsrALnv HEADPIECE Gilbert B. Wagenfeld, Philadelphia, Pa.'

Application June 11, 1956, Serial No. 590,751 3 Claims. (Cl. 2197) This invention relates generally to headwear and is more particularly concerned with certain improvements in caps of the type which are worn, for example, by those engaged in the dispensing of foods and beverages and which are ofthe general construction shown and described in my prior United States Letters Patent, No. 2,685,090, granted August 3, 1954.

Among the principal objects of the present invention is `to provide the cap with improved means for adjusting the head size thereof and for positively maintaining the cap to its adjusted head size.

, More specically, it is an important object of the present invention to provide a cap of the aforementioned type with a head band which is adjustable within predetermined limits to t heads of various sizes and shapes and which includes index means for indicating any one of a number of different head sizes to which the cap may be adjusted, said index means being built into the cap as a component part thereof and being operative to secure the head band to its preselected size.

Other objects of the invention, such as relate to econo4 mies of manufacture resulting from design and construction of the cap and the facility `with which it may be adjusted to a predeterminedly selected head size, will appear more fully hereinafter, it being understood that the present invention consists substantially in the combination, construction, location and relative airangement of parts, as shown in the accompanying drawings, described in detail in the following specification and as finally pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which are illustrative of a preferred construction of the cap of the present invention:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a blank of sheet material of which the cap is formed;

Figure 2 is a sectional view of the blank as taken along the line 2f-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the blank of Figure 1 folded along its longitudinally extending fold mes;

Figure 4 is a perspective View showing the blank as further folded along its transversely extending fold lines;

Figure 5 is a side elevational view showing the blank of Figure l fully folded into its nal cap form;

Figure 6 is an enlarged sectional View as taken along the line 6 6 of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a side elevational view of the cap, showing a portion of the side panel broken away to expose to view the head size adjusting means;

Figures 8, 9, l0 and l1 are perspective views which respectively1 illustrate in sequence the steps involved for adjusting the cap to a preselected head band size, in the case illustrated, size 7;

igure l2 shows the head band adjusted to size 7%; an

Figure 13 shows the head band adjusted to size 6%.

Referring now more particularly to Figure l, it will be observed that the cap of the present invention is "ice formed of a flat blank 10 of pliable sheet material, such as paper. Preferably, but not necessarily, the blank is formed of two pieces 11 and 12 of sheet material` arranged with their proximate edge portions overlapped and adhesively secured together, as at 12a, the upper piece 11 being preferably of lighter weight than the lower piece 12. The lighter weight piece 11 serves as the crown portion of the cap, while the heavier weight lower piece 12 forms the head band portion thereof.

The composite rectangular blank 10 is: provided with parallel, longitudinally extending edges 13 and 14 and with opposite transversely extending edges 15 and 16. The square upper opposite end corners which would normally be formed by the edges 13, 14, 15 and 16 are cut off as shown along lines 17-18 and 17a-18a. The

blank so formed is provided with longitudinally extend? ing parallel fold lines 20, 21 and 22 and with transversely extending parallel fold lines 23 and 24. The flapl itself along a longitudinally extending score or fold line 20, folded again upon itself in the same direction along a parallel fold line 21 and then folded once more upon` itself in the opposite direction along the upper parallel fold line 22. Referring particularly to Figure 3, when the blank 10 is folded as just described, the fold line 20 extends longitudinally preferably along a line between the points where the edges 15 and 16 respectively meet the edges 17 and 17a. surface of the marginal portion proximate the edge 13 is exposed to view, and, at opposite ends of the blank 10, the cuts 18 and 18a respectively extend alongside be folded upon the same `face of the blank respectively along the transversely extending score or fold lines 23 and 24 which are disposed so that in this folded condition (see Figure 5) the terminal portions of the blank 10 overlap. Then the latter are arranged so that (see Figures 5 and 6) the one associated with the edge 15 is disposed in embracing telescoping relation to the one associated with the edge 16, and so that the transversely extending marginal portion of the blank 10 proximate the cut 18a and the contiguous portion of the cut 1721 is disposed in embracing relation to the transversely extending marginal portion of the blank 10 proximate the cut 18 and the contiguous portion of the cut 17.

`Now the terminal portions of the blank 10 may be interlocked for relative sliding or telescopic movement. For this purpose there is provided a tab 25 at one lower corner of the blank 10, this tab being formed as shown by a transversely extending cut 26 extending inwardly from the edge 14, and there is further provided in spaced relation to the edge 16 a longitudinally extending slit 27 at the other lower corner of the blank 10. yWhen the tab 25 is engaged in the slit 27 (see Figures 6, 7 and 8), the terminal portions of the blank 10 are slidably` interlocked.

The adhesive coated surfaces of the overlapping marginal portions are now pressed together to seal together,

In addition, the adhesive coated portions one of which is split .to provide end sections 29a' cap is placed upon the head in conventionalmanner, and.

when fitted thereon adjusts itself to the shape and' size ofl the head by' reason of the fact that the pair of side panel sections 32` and 33 and their associated portions 29a and 29b ofthe head band are adapted for relative movement, the opposite end` portions of the head band which are slidably telescopically related being secured against excessive movement by the tab 25 engaged in the slit 27.

It is to be. notedparticularly that the cuts 17 and'17 converge as they approach the ridge of the cap (see Figures 5, 9 and 10'), asr a consequence of which, when the head band 29 is expanded, the overlapped portions of the panel sections32l and 33 swing relatively to one another (see Figure 10)Y with the point of convergence as a. pivot center. This action tends to reduce the ten dency for the panel sections 32 and 33 to warp due to the expansive movement of the head band 29, as a consequence of which the appearance of the cap is improved.

It is, of course, desirable to adjust the cap to a preselected head band size and to this end the present invention provides a built-in head size indexing arrangement now to be described. Referring again to Figure l, it will be observed that the blank 10 is die cut or otherwise stamped in the portion thereof which constitutes the inside panel 34 of the head band tor respectively provide the opposite telescoping end sections of the band with a set of struck-out size index tabs 35 and with a singley struck-out locking tab 36. The set of index tabs 35 and the single tab 36 are longitudinally alined in the inside panel 34 of the doubled over head band 29 of the cap, it being noted further that the tabs 35 as a set and the single tab 36 are respectively so disposed in the opposite overlapping portions 29arand 29h of the lcap head band that when said portions are telescopically associated, asV

above described, the single tab 36 overlies the area of the tabs 35 and may be' brought into exact registry with any one of the latter. by relative shifting of the telescopically engaged end portions of the cap.

Actually, while the tabs 35 are arranged in two closely spaced rows thereof having an overall vertical dimension approximately equal to the vertical dimension of the single tab 36, the individual width-wise dimensions of all of the tabs are substantially equal. The upper row of the index tabs 35 are separately bendable out of the plane of the panel 34 about horizontally extending hinge lines respectively designated 37, which hinge lines are coincident with the top edges of the upper row of the tabs 35, the remaining three edges of each tab being slitted free of the panel 34.

The tabs 35 of the lower row thereof are likewise separately bendable out of the plane of the panel 34, but about horizontal hinge lines 38 respectively coincident with the bottom edges of the struck-out tabs. The lower row of the index tabs 35 are offset relatively to those of the upper row so that the tabs 35 as a group constitute a` series of consecutive head band size indices, the tabs being respectively marked with head band sizes, to wit: 71/2, 7%, 7%, 7%, 7, 6%;

The single tab 36 formed' in the opposite end portion ofthe cap head band is also slit along three of its sides to render it' bendable out of the plane of the panel 34 along a single vertically extending hinge line 38. This tab 36 is thus the closure for an opening or window 4t) which may be brought into registry with any one of the head band size tabs 35 and through which a selected one of the latter tabs may be viewed when the tab 36 is swung into its open position, as shown in Figure 8.

In the original condition of the cap as manufactured, the opposite side panels thereof are pressed into flatwise engagement with each other, the tongue 25 being engaged in its accommodated slit 27 and the tab.36 being disposed flatwise in the plane of the panel 34 to cancel from view CFI 4 the size idexing tabs 35. This condition of the cap is shown in Figures and 7.

When the wearer of the cap desires to adjust the head band thereof to proper size, it is only necessary to open up the window 40 by bending the tab 36 outwardly, as see Figure 8, and then shift the telescopically engagedend portions of the head band relatively to each other to present to full view in the window 40 the index tab 35 of the particular head band size desired. Assuming this desired size is 7,. as indicated in Figure 8, the tab 35 designated size 7 is then swung out about its hinge line (as see Figure 9) to permit the window closure tab 36 to be folded in beneath the selected size tab 35 (size 7 as shown). Thereupon, the selected size tab is folded back into position, as shown in Figures l0 and 1l, to overlie the window closure tab 36, in which position the selected size tab 35 coacts with the tab 36 to lock the telescoped portionsV of the head band against relative movement. opposite side edges of the selected size tab 35 respectively engage corresponding side edges of the window opening 40 to prevent any possible lateral displacement in either direction of the selected tab 35 relatively to the tab 36. In effect, result obtained is the same as though the selected size tab 35 formed in one of the telescoped portions of the head band 12 were projected through a slit formed in the other one ofl said head band portions to interlock the same together against relative movement.

Of course, the same procedure would be followed for adjusting the head band to any other pre-selected size, it`

present the selected size index tab 35 in registry with the window or opening 40 and then effect theirinterlocking relation as above described. Thus, Figure 12`` shows the head band adjusted to a head size of 7%, while Figure 13, shows it adjusted to the smaller 6% head size.

It will be observed that where any one of the lower row of index tabs 35 is selected for interlocking engagement with the tab 36, such index tab first bent outwardly of and then back over the bottom edge of the tab 36, whereas the selected index tab 35 of the upper row is bent outwardly of and back over the upper edge of the tab 36.

Preferably, but not necessarily, the areas of the head band panel 34 which respectively encompass the tabs 35 and the coacting single tab 36 may be suitably reinforced as by forming these areas of multiple-ply material from which the tabs are struck-out to form the hinged interlocking elements. Also, the size index tabs 35 may be grouped otherwise than as shown. As, for example, by arranging them all in a single line, in which case the tabs 35 and the tab 36 would all be of approximately the same vertical and horizontal dimensions. It

will be appreciated further that the size adjusting andV securing means of the present invention is applicable to various constructions of headwear wherein a head band 1. In a cap of the character described, an adjustable-y head band formed of flat sheet material folded upwardly upon itself to provide an inner panel and an overlying outer panel joined by a bottom fold, the upper edge of said outer panel being folded downward along a line parallelingV the edge of the bottomV fold of the` headA band so that the outer panel is of substantially uniform In this connection, it will be noted that the4 depth, said head band being transversely creased along at least two lines spaced apart a distance less than one half the overall length of the head band to provide the latter with opposite side portions extending from front to rear of the cap, one of said side portions being thus split between the crease lines to provide a pair of telescopically related overlapping sections, and means for releasably securing said telescopically related sections in interlocked different positions whereby the head band may be adjusted to a selected size including a set of closely related size indexing 4tabs and a coacting lock tab struck from and individually bendable out of the plane of the inner panel of the head band, the set of indexing tabs being formed in one and the coacting lock tab being formed in the other of said telescopically related sections of the head band, said size indexing tabs being adapted to be bent out of the plane of said inner panel about a hinge line extending parallel to the bottom fold of the cap and said lock tab being adapted to be bent out of the plane of said inner panel about a hinge line extending normal to the bottom fold of the cap, said size indexing tabs being each of the same Width as said lock tab and being selectively adapted for registry and interlocking engagement therewith.

2. In a cap as defined in claim 1 wherein said size indexing tabs are arranged in longitudinally spaced relation and are adapted to be selectively presented in registry with said lock tab For interlocking engagement therewith, said indexing tabs lying in two vertically spaced rows, each row having its own hinge line extending parallel to the bottom fold of the cap, the tab ends in one row being longitudinally offset relative to the tab ends in the other row.

3. In a cap as defined in claim 1 wherein said size indexing tabs are individually marked to denote a particular head band size and said lock tab serves as a closure for an opening with which any one of said size indexing tabs may be brought into registry and through which opening the size notation may be observed when said lock tab is lifted from its closureI position.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 573,192 Worden Dec. 15, 1896 '1,836,141 Wagenfeld Dec. 15, 1913 1,856,967 Peetz May 3, 1932 2,004,098 Andrews June 11, 1935 2,685,090 Wagenfeld Aug. 3, 1954 2,721,329 Berg Oct. 25, 1955 

